DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you please expand on neuropathy? I have it in both legs and feet. Very painful. Are there medicines for it? All articles say that it comes from being diabetic. I do not have diabetes. Is exercise good for it? — M.R. ANSWER: Peripheral neuropathy, your illness, refers to nerves that are […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please print information on psoriasis. My scalp is dry and itchy, and I have to scrape it. My back is itchy, and so is the skin behind my knees. My toes itch, and so do my eyes. — J.W. ANSWER: Is your diagnosis of psoriasis a self-made diagnosis or a doctor-made one? […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: As a construction worker, I do lots of heavy work — digging, pouring cement and carpentry — in hot weather. I would like to know how much and what kinds of liquids are best for me to drink. Some of my fellow workers say water is all you need. Others say you […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: The letter from the lady with urinary tract infections raised an alarm in me. About 15 years ago, I lost my paternal grandmother to ovarian cancer. She was 78. Her initial symptom was repeated urinary tract infections. After several rounds of antibiotics, drinking cranberry juice, etc., she began having trouble emptying her […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My 88-year-old father has congestive heart failure and aortic stenosis. His cardiologist suggested transcatheter aortic valve replacement as an alternative to open-heart surgery. I’ve read overwhelmingly positive reports about this minimally invasive technique. I feel very strongly that doing this not only would prolong my father’s life but also would greatly improve […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a relatively healthy 81-year-old man who has recently been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. I find it strange that a sudden change in my bowel habits occurred four months ago and still continues much of the time. My stools are loose and covered with mucus. I have to take frequent […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: What is your recommendation for osteoarthritis? I am a 77-year-old man currently taking diclofenac and Tylenol for arthritis, as prescribed by my primary physician, to no avail. I also would appreciate your opinion on turmeric. — J.T. ANSWER: Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis, a condition that almost all older […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: After shampooing my hair, I looked in the mirror and found a large bald patch near my ear. I screamed. I can comb my hair to hide it. Does this mean I am about to lose all my hair? Is there a treatment for it? — A.A. ANSWER: With a fair degree […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My two teenage daughters are not having any luck in finding a summer job. We live in a fairly depressed area. They aren’t all that disappointed. They tell me they’ll have time to work on their tans at our nearby lake. What’s your opinion of tanning? I have heard nothing but bad […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have leg cramps at night quite often. They wake me up, and I have to straighten my leg slowly. I do 15 bends, squats, modified push-ups and sit-ups every night. What causes these cramps? What can I do to stop them? I am physically fit and healthy at age 80. — […]